Check-row planter



(No Model.) l @sheets-sheer 1; A. G. ANDERSON. CHECK RW PLANTBR.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

A. G. ANDERSON. GHEGKROW PLANTER.

Patented June 20, 1893.

WIT/VESSES:

(Ne Medel.) a sheetsfshe'en '3.

A. G. ANDERSON. CHECK Row PLANTBR.

Ne.. 499,697. Patented June 20, 1893.

v "UNITEDV STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREW GUST. ANDERSON, OF MOLINE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THF. MOLINE PLOW' COMPANY, OF ILLINOIS.

CHECK-ROW PLANTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 499,697, dated J' une 20, 1893.

Application tiled September 29, 1891. Serial No. 407,135. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW GUsr. ANDER- SON, of Moline, county ofA Rock Island, and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Check-Row Planters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to what are known as check row planters, in which the seed-discharging mechanism is actuated by a forked lever on the machine, operated by buttons located at suitable intervals on a stationary line extended across the field, and the invention consists in an improved construction and arrangement of parts, whereby the rider is enabled to dolf or discharge the wire on reaching the side of the eld, without dismounting. To this end I guide and sustain the wire by fixed horizontal rollers, and retain it in place thereon by outside vertical rollers on a hinged support, so that they may swing down out of the way in order to admit of the `wire drawing laterally from the horizontal rollers. WVith the hinged support I combine a latch or locking device under the control of the operator, so that the parts may be released and the wire discharged while themachine is in motion.

In order to facilitate the discharge of the wire and avoid the use of means for forcibly eecting its disconnection, I mount the upright lever, which in action vibrates forward and backward, so that it may swing or tip laterally outward to an approximately horizontal position in order that the wire may draw readily out of its end.

Manifestly the details of construction in my machine may be varied to a great extent while retaining the essential characteristics and the mode of action above recited, but in the drawings I have represented the construction which I deem best adapted for general use.

In the accompanying drawings,-Figure l is a side elevation of my device in operative position. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is an end view of the same. Fig. 4 is vertical cross-section of the same on the line 4-4 of Figs. l and 2. Fig. 5 is a cross-section on the same line as Fig. 4, with the parts dropped to release the wire. Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the same. Fig." 7 is a cross-sec tion on the line 7-7 of Figs. 2 and 4. Fig. 8

is a side elevation of a corn-planting machine having my invention embodied therein, the check-wire-being in operative position. Fig. 9 is an end elevation of the same showing the position of the parts with the check-wire dotted.

Referring to the drawings,-A represents a rigid frame or casting having at opposite ends standards a d which support respectively the horizontal outreaching rollers B B, and C C', intended to sustain and guide the check wire D, which passes over the lower rollers B C, and under the upper rollers B C. The rollers turn on studs projecting rigidly from the frame, and are preferably tapered at their extreme outer ends to facilitate the lateral insertion and removal of the wire. The wire is retained in operative position between the horizontal rollers, by two upright rollers E and E', mounted on studs upon the ends of the rolling plate F,having horizontal journalsseated in bearings f', on the frame A, as shown in the several figures; so that the plate f may turn downward and outward on these journals from its operative position, shown in Figs. l, 2, 3 and 4, to the position Ishown in Figs. 5, 6,and 9 carrying with it the rollers E E', from their upright positions at the ends of the horizontal rollers. By thus turning the rolls E E', downward the outer ends of the horizontal wire guiding rolls are exposed, and an open space left between them to permit the insertion and removal of the Wire. The rolling plate is held in operative position by a cam-lever G, mounted on the frame A,

.and acting on a lip f3, on plate F. A cord H attached to the cam-lever enables the driver to operate it and release the parts from his seat, and when released the plate and rollers fall under the influence of gravity.

In order to secure an automatic locking action when plate F is turned up to its normal position, an inclined lipf4, is fixed to the plate in position to strike the cam lever and throw it over to a locking position.

The parts above described may be used in connection with a seed-dropping lever arranged in any ordinary manner to be operated by the wire, but, I recommend the employment of an upright lever, J, mounted on a horizontal stud, j, on the rolling plate F, so

IOO

that when the plate is turned down to release the wire it will also turn the lever downward and outward until it assumes an approximately horizontal or outreaching position, as shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 9 so that the wire may draw freely out ot' its forked end. The lever, as shown, will be moved in one direction by a spring, K, connected at its lower end by a link, L, with the seed-dropping mechanism as in machines now sold in the market for eX- ample by a rod extending from the lower end of the lever to the dropping mechanism as in the Odell Patent No. 326,449, dated September 15, 1885, or otherwise connected with said mechanism. As these connections are foreign to my invention and are understood by the skilled mechanic, a description thereon is unnecessary herein. It is to be understood that the lateral tipping motion ot` the lever is advantageous in any machine in which the wire is discharged laterally, and that it is not dependent upon the other parts or details herein shown.

My invention comprehends broadly any u pright wire-actuated arm which is adapted to tip laterally downwardk to permit the escape ot' the wire.

While I have described and illustrated horizontal and vertical rollers to sustain and guide the wire, and while I prefer to use rollers because of the diminished friction attending their use, it will, of course, be understood that studs or arms without rollers may be used.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a check row mechanism the combination of horizontal rollers arranged in pairs to ers carried by said frame to retain the wire between the carrying rollers, and means for locking said support in operative position.

2. In a check-row mechanism the combination of horizontal rollers arranged in vertical pairs to carry the wire between them, a frame hinged below the wire carrying rollers and adapted to swing outward by gravity, vertical rollers on said frame to retain the wire between the carrying rollers, and a pivoted cam-lever under the control of the driver for locking and releasingsaid frame.

3. In combination with the main-frame and the cam-lever thereon, the hinged roller-supporting frame having the beveled linger to actuate the cam-lever.

4. In a check row mechanism, an inllexible vibratin g arm or lever th rough which the dropping mechanism is actuated by the check wire, a plate supporting the axis of the lever, and itself hinged to turn laterally at right angles to the path of the lever.

5. In a check-row mechanism, an upright lever whereon the check wire acts, in combination with a support for said lever hinged to turn laterally, and means for locking said support in position.

6. In a check-row mechanism, and in` combination with stationary horizontal supports for the wire, a hinged laterally-turning plate or support carrying upright guides to hold the wire in position, and also carrying a lever upon which the wire. acts.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand, this 5th day of August, 1891, in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

ANDREW GUST. ANDERSON.

Witnesses:

A. W. WAY, S. M. HILL. 

